Hardcover UK, first printing and first UK edition. (The US edition precedes by 3 weeks.) Very fine (unread) copy in very fine jacket. This copy is wrapped in black jacket. Besides some editorial changes, the UK edition has some differences from the US edition, specifically the addition of a white silk placeholder ribbon, black page edging and a different photo of Ms. Clarke on the rear jacket flap not in the US edition. The first edition was issued in two jacket states: one creme (white) and the other black, this is the black jacket. (All later printings will have black jackets only.) Heavily promoted new novel which meets the critics rave reviews. The US edition is already into its 8th printing and appearing in red jackets. ''A quite extraordinary novel, not least because of the quiet, almost leisurely ways by which it achieves its extraordinariness.'' - Gary K. Wolfe, Locus. Award History: 2005 Nebula Award Nominee (lost to Camouflage by Joe Haldeman); 2005 Locus Award Winner for Best First Novel; 2005 World Fantasy Award Winner for Best Novel); 2005 Locus Award Winner for Besf First Novel; 2005 Hugo Award Winner for Best Novel; SF Site's Best SF and Fantasy Books of 2004: Editors' Choice; 2004 British SF Award Nominee for Best Novel (lost to River of Gods by McDonald); Borders Books Best of 2004 Science Fiction & Fantasy. NY Times Books: 100 Notable Books of the Year; Locus 2004 Recommended Reading List: First Novels.